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PHOTO BY PHILLIP GOULD
catch the blues
*»UT *N VVf^frER
WHAT "fifth Annual Hatves? Moon Bluesfest"
WHERE Chip's Roadhquse, Winder j
WHENl friday, September 8 & Saturday, September 9
HOW MUCH $25/weekend, $15/one-day.
T he familiar designation, "blues out in Winder" which appears
weekly in these pa y es aptly describes the goings on of Chip's,
the self-described "True American Roadhouse." Everything
about the club, from its smoky decor ar.d the intimate stage-right -
on-the-dancefloor setup to the clientele, seems to be trying like
hell to capture that classic blues club ambiance. And, for the most
part. Chip's nails it while managing to bring in some of the
hottest blues and blues-based acts m the country. Now, for the
fifth year hand-running. Chip's Roadhouse celebrates its accom
plishments and the clul s most championed regulars with the
Harvest Moon ?* esfest, a two-day bash with some of the best
blues-based acts from across the nation and dose to home.
"It's just a big backyard party, really, for lack of a better
phrase," says Bluesfest organizer and club owner Greg Forrester.
"The whole thing started because everyone who came to play the
club would say. What a great place for a festival.' It's a way to
Regulars at Chip's, Little Joey and crew recently opened for former
Band drummer Levon Helm when the Arkansas traveler brought
his blues outfit The Barn Burners to Chip's this past April. Next
up, Atlanta's King Johnson mixes New Orleans funk with Latin,
blues and jazz stylings for a heady, groove-filled mixture. The
band has shaied the stage with such heavyweights as Derek
Trucks, Gov't Mule and the perennial Crescent City band the Funky
Meters and recently released its self-titled second album. This
band has played all four previous Harvest Moon festivals.
Throughout Saturday, self-made blues enigma Slim Fatz will
keep listeners occupied at the food tent between headliners' gigs
on the main stage. A unique figure in the rather threadbare world
of solo blues, Fatz channels the ghosts of Tampa Red and Robert
Johnson with a modem touch wrapped in a rather amusing "hell
hound on his trail" persona. Back on the main stage, one of the
weekend's particular treats comes in the form of a set from
Francine Reed & Java Monkey at 2:45 p.m. Reed, a stunning
jazz vocalist, is a longtime member of iconoclastic Texas song
writer Lyle Lovett's Large Band and has released a top-notch
pair of vocals-heavy albums on he: own. The lady has pipes,
y'all, and can belt out the blues in the time-honored tradition
of sweet singers like Bessie Smith and Carla Thomas. Reed
recently released an album titled I Want You To Love Me on
Ichiban Records.
Known mainly as a member of Jimmy Buffet's Coral Reefer
Band, Greg "Fingers" Taylor has nevertheless carved out a
distinguished solo career as a hard-knockin' blues rocke. and a
stunning harmonica player. A native of Jackson, MS, Taylor is
equally at home—an adept—in front of one of Bubba's soid-
out Parrothead masses of insanity or a small smoky club, and
has shared the stage with folks like James Taylor, WAR, and
the "Killer" himself, Jerry Lee Lewis. His new release. Old Rock
And Roller, is on Round records.
Although he hails from upstate New York, quitarist John
Mooney nevertheless exudes the spirit of the Crescent City
with his mixture of Delta slide guitar styles end Mambo
rhythms. A protege of legendary Delta bluesman Son House,
Mooney's and his band Bluesiana have a reputation for
staging high-voltage affairs, and his latest album. Gone To
Hell, was released this past April.
Wrapping up the Bluesfest on Saturday night is a mix of
the old and the new. Quite possibly the next Queen of the
Blues, Deborah Coleman possesses a stirring voice, bam-
burning guitar sHlls and a knack for coming up with clever
tunes. More in line with hard-stepping, bad-ass guitarists like
Buddy Guy and Kenny Neal than vulnerable chanteuses,
Coleman and her band The Thrillseekers can hold their own
on stage, and Coleman once took late blues legend Luther
Allison to the limit in a head-cutting contest.
Accordion player and veritable Zydeco legend < Chubby
Carrier closes the show, and if you've never caught one of the
man's off-the-wall performances, don't miss this one. A
member of the zydeco-rich Carrier family—dad Roy was one of
the originators of the genre—Chubby carries the tradition into the
new millennium with his crackerjack band, hot accordion licks and
high-octane sense of fun. Zydeco music rocks, and so does
Chubby, so don't miss it. Chubby has pl«yed the last four
Bluesfests and brought the house down every time.
In its five years, the Harvest Moon Bluesfest has garnered cor- v
porate sponsorship and a good bit of national attention in a time
when it seems the blues is on the run again. However, thanks to
Chip s unique place in the a*ea music scene—both stylistically and
geographically—the blues are indeed alive and well out in Winder.
"For our market, folks have to be coming here; they just don't
stop by," Forrester says. "So, you get a room full of people on pur
pose and for a purpose. They're all here for the same leason: the
music."
Matt Thompson
Chip's is located at 655 Patrick Mill Road in Winder. From
Athens, take Highway 316 W towards Atlanta and turn left at the
blinking caution light at Patrick Mill Rd. Call (770) 307-2840 for
more information.
<r-
showcase the acts that've played the dub before, as well as the
bands we can't normally book because of their size. We try to keep
it neat for everyone." }
Held mostly outdoors in the large field behind the Chip's
buildinq, the festival this year boasts an enlarged lineup as well as
a number jf goodies in the food and beer tents.
Kicking off the festival with a local bent on Friday, Sept. 8 at
5:2 j p.m., the "Athens All-Star Santana Tribute"—induding
members of Squat, King Daddy Zeb, Carlton Owens Conspiracy and
others—will reprise its performance held at the Georgia Theatre
last March. The self-described "World's Greatest Bar Band,"
Maryland's Nighthawks, hit the stage next bringing then unique
blend of blues, soul and good-time American music. Rapidly
approaching 30-years as an institution, the Nighthawks boast
such heavyweights as Jimmy Thackery and Jimmy Hall as mem
bers, and have backed such blues monsters as Muddy Waters, Otis
Rush, Elvin Bishop and Big Walter "Shakey" Horton. The band's
newest release is Still Wild.
Young Houston guitar slinger Hadden Sayers doses Friday
night with what promises to be a treat for fans of hot, Texas-style
string-bending and blues guitar heroics. A native of Nacogdoches,
Sayers mixes in traditional (read: Stevie Rav Vaughan-influenced)
blues guitai with sharp pop hooks and smart lyrics, much like an
early Ian Moore. Sayers's latest release. Live From Texas: Swingin'
From The Fabulous Satellite, was recorded in his homebase of
Houston.
Saturday's festivities start off early with a 12 noon kick-off
performance by Atlanta's Little Joey's Jumpin' Jive. This outfit
plays jump and swing-blues based around a harmonica lead.
163 N. Jackson S!. • Dowr town
waxmg available
dorhe CdteSvtfd.
Grand Opening of the
Healing Arts Centre and
Sangha Yoga Studio
Remedy’s 8 Year Anniversary
Sangha’s Opening
Art Exhibit
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Celebration begins Friday night with Inspired
Movement to Live Improvisational Mtutc. Get
down to some of the best music in town as we offer
thisifee to all! (8:45-10:15pm)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Open House begins at noon on Saturday as we
invite you to come enjoy the Afro-Haitian Dance
experience. (12-1:30pm)
Members of Squat will be groovin’ everyone with
live jazz from a-7pm. We thank them for this
contribution!
McGinnis Leathers will be displaying his amazing
photography and will have a slide show at 8pm
entided “Continental Drift.”
Throughout Saturday we welcome you and
encourage you to explore the Healing Arts Centre.
Come meet the therapists, the instructors of Sangha
and the herbalists of Remedy.
HEALING ARTS CENTRE
834 Prince Avenue (parking lot in rear)
613-1143
SEPTEMBER 6,
2000 FLAGPOLE EJ